EP0587326B1 - Method for making rare earth superconductive composite - Google Patents

Method for making rare earth superconductive composite Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0587326B1
EP0587326B1 EP93306516A EP93306516A EP0587326B1 EP 0587326 B1 EP0587326 B1 EP 0587326B1 EP 93306516 A EP93306516 A EP 93306516A EP 93306516 A EP93306516 A EP 93306516A EP 0587326 B1 EP0587326 B1 EP 0587326B1
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reba
bacuo
mass
powder
temperature
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French (fr)
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EP0587326A1 (en
EP0587326B2 (en
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Manabu Yoshida
Izumi c/o Inter. Superconductivity Hirabayashi
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NGK Insulators Ltd
International Superconductivity Technology Center
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NGK Insulators Ltd
International Superconductivity Technology Center
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B35/00—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
    • C04B35/01—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics
    • C04B35/45—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics based on copper oxide or solid solutions thereof with other oxides
    • C04B35/4504—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products based on oxide ceramics based on copper oxide or solid solutions thereof with other oxides containing rare earth oxides
    • C04B35/4508—Type 1-2-3
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B35/00—Shaped ceramic products characterised by their composition; Ceramics compositions; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
    • C04B35/622—Forming processes; Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the manufacturing of ceramic products
    • C04B35/653—Processes involving a melting step
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N60/00—Superconducting devices
    • H10N60/01—Manufacture or treatment
    • H10N60/0268—Manufacture or treatment of devices comprising copper oxide
    • H10N60/0828—Introducing flux pinning centres

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for making a rare earth superconductive composite.
  • a superconductive material loses electrical resistance at temperatures at or below a critical temperature.
  • a new class of rare earth-alkaline earth-copper oxide was discovered to be a superconductive material having a critical temperature above 77K, which is a boiling point of liquid nitrogen.
  • This type of compounds has an approximate unit formula of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , where x is typically about close to 0 ⁇ , and x represents oxygen deficiency. Crystalline structure of this type of rare earth oxide superconductors have a perovskite structure with the oxygen deficiency.
  • any superconductor can be classified into either type I superconductor or type II superconductor.
  • type I superconductor When the type I superconductor is exposed to a magnetic field below the critical magnetic field, the superconductor shows complete diamagnetism due to the Meissner effect, and magnetic flux can not penetrate inside the superconductor.
  • a supercurrent flows at the surface of the superconductor so as to cancel the external magnetic field.
  • the superconductor undergoes a transition from a superconductive phase to a non-superconductive phase, and magnetic flux begins to penetrate the inside the superconductor.
  • the type II superconductor exposed to magnetic field below the first magnetic field behaves like the type I superconductor, and magnetic flux can not penetrate inside the superconductor due to the Meissner effect.
  • the superconductor undergoes a transition from a superconductive phase to a mixed phase, and magnetic flux begins to penetrate the inside the superconductor while maintaining superconductivity.
  • the type II superconductor undergoes a phase transition from this mixed state to a non-superconductive state.
  • the oxide superconductor belongs to type II superconductor.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-224111 discloses a use of a platinum group element with a partial melt process so as to disperse fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 (RE is Y, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er or Yb) in superconductive grains of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 work as pinning centers to prevent magnetic flux from moving in the resulting superconductive composite.
  • the process includes the steps of: heating a green compact including REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and at least one element of Rh, Pt, Pd, Ru, Os, and Sc to a temperature higher than an incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x to partially melt REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x ; slowly cooling the resulting material to recrystallize REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x from the melt.
  • a platinum group element such as platinum and rhodium
  • An object of the present invention is to improve a critical current density of a superconductive composite in which fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 , which work as pinning centers, are dispersed in a matrix of superconductive REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains.
  • small powder particles are used for both REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 in a compacted mass for the partial melt process, thereby making RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles dispersed in the resulting composite smaller and increasing a number of the RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles in a unit volume of the resulting composite.
  • Smaller pinning centers and fine dispersion of pinning centers improve critical current density of the superconductive composite.
  • the present invention provides a method for making a rare earth superconductive composite including a matrix of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains and, uniformly dispersed therein, fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 , wherein RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, and x ranges from 0 ⁇ to 1, which comprises the steps of: (1) forming a compacted mass by application of pressure out of a powder material including REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 in a powder form wherein powder particles of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x have an average diameter up to 6 ⁇ m and a maximum diameter up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m, and powder particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 have an average diameter up to 6 ⁇ m and a maximum diameter up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m; (2) heating the compacted mass to a temperature which is higher than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa
  • Step (3) Gradually cooling the melt in step (3) gives rise to a peritectic reaction of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in a solid state with the melt to give a crystal growth of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x at an interface of RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles and the melt so that fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 are dispersed in grains of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • Fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in the composite have a diameter up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m, and most of the fine particles are less than 5 ⁇ m.
  • RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles in the composite work as pinning centers.
  • the powder particles of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x have an average diameter up to 4 ⁇ m and a maximum diameter up to 15 ⁇ m
  • the powder particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 have an average diameter up to 4 ⁇ m and a maximum diameter up to 15 ⁇ m.
  • the powder material in step (1) may include an amount of RE 2 BaCuO 5 ranging from 10 ⁇ % to 80 ⁇ % by mole of an amount of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 have diameters up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m, and most of the fine particles may have diameters up to 10 ⁇ ⁇ m. Diameters of most of the fine particles typically distribute around about 2 to about 4 ⁇ m.
  • the melt in step (3) further includes an effective amount of a species so as to disperse the fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in step (3).
  • the powder material in step (1) may further include the species so as to disperse the fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in step (3), and the species may include at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc, and Ce so that the fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in step (3) have a maximum diameter up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m.
  • An amount of the one element may range from 0 ⁇ .0 ⁇ 1 to 10 ⁇ % by weight of the sum of RE 2 BaCuO 5 and REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x in the powder material.
  • step (2) further includes a step of maintaining the mass at a steady temperature ranging from 950 ⁇ °C to 1250 ⁇ °C for a sufficient time to partially melt REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the mass may be gradually cooled from a temperature ranging from 10 ⁇ 50 ⁇ °C to 980 ⁇ °C to a temperature ranging from 940 ⁇ °C to 850 ⁇ °C at a rate ranging from 0 ⁇ .1°C to 2°C per hour.
  • the mass may be rapidly cooled to an initial temperature of the mass at step (3) at a rate ranging from 50 ⁇ °C to 40 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C per hour.
  • an initial temperature from which the mass is gradually cooled may be a temperature higher by 5°C to 20 ⁇ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x
  • an ending temperature to which the mass is gradually cooled is a temperature lower by at least 30 ⁇ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the superconductive composite obtained the method of the present invention includes a matrix composed of grains represented by a formula REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.
  • REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x has a multi-layered perovskite structure with oxygen deficiency shown by x.
  • x is a number ranging from 0 ⁇ to 1
  • an oxygen content in REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x is non-stoichiometric.
  • a value of x has a direct influence on the superconductivity of the grains.
  • the rare earth element represented by RE is not restricted to one element and may be a mixture of two or more elements selected from the group.
  • An example of such mixed rare earth elements is that RE is shown as Y y Yb 1-y where y ranges from 0 ⁇ to 1.
  • a starting material for powder of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 includes, for example, an oxide of RE, including Y, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb; a carbonate, oxide or peroxide of Ba; and an oxide of Cu.
  • a mixture including RE, Ba, and Cu in a molar ratio of 1:2:3 is sintered at a temperature ranging from 650 ⁇ °C to 1,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C, which is lower than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , in an ambient atmosphere, and the sintered material is pulverized.
  • the mixture may be heated to a temperature higher than the incongruent melting temperature to partially melt REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and then to cool the mass to solidify the melt.
  • RE 2 BaCuO 5 To form powder of RE 2 BaCuO 5 , a mixture including RE, Ba, and Cu in a molar ratio of 2:1:1 is fired at a temperature ranging from 80 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to 1,20 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C in an ambient atmosphere, and the fired material is pulverized, for example with a mill. An average particle size can be adjusted by a period of time for pulverizing the fired material.
  • Large particles may be eliminated by a sedimentation method using an appropriate solvent such as ethanol, and a sieving method.
  • an appropriate solvent such as ethanol
  • a sieving method In the sedimentation method, powder particles are dispersed in a solvent, and larger particles fall quicker than smaller particles, thereby removing larger particles.
  • Powder particles having an average diameter of not more than about 3 ⁇ m may be obtained by a coprecipitation method using oxalates, a sol-gel method, or a spray-pyrolysis method.
  • nitrates or acetates of a rare earth metal, barium, and copper are dissolved in an organic solvent such as alcohol.
  • Ethyleneglycol may be used as a solvent.
  • An organic acid for example, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, etc. is added to the starting solution to form metallic salts of the organic acid.
  • the solvent is removed from the solution at a temperature ranging from about 70 ⁇ °C to about 90 ⁇ °C for a sufficient time, for example, over a period of scores of hours so as to change a sol to a gel to solidify.
  • the solid obtained is pulverized, and then fired at about 80 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for one to six hours to give fine powder.
  • a molar ratio of RE:Ba:Cu in the starting solution is adjusted for a desired ratio such as 1:2:3 and 2:2:1.
  • a solution containing a rare earth metal, barium, and copper in a desired ratio is sprayed into a furnace which is heated to high temperatures in advance so as to pyrolyze the compound in the sprayed solution to give a composite oxide.
  • a compacted mass is obtained by application of pressure out of a powder material including REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 in a powder form.
  • the powder material may consist essentially of 10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ molar parts of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and 10 ⁇ to 80 ⁇ molar parts of RE 2 BaCuO 5 , and further preferably 10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ molar parts of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and 20 ⁇ to 50 ⁇ molar parts of RE 2 BaCuO 5 .
  • the ratio of the two starting materials is suitable for dispersing fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in the resulting composite.
  • the powder material contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc, and Ce, and an amount the at least one element is preferably 0 ⁇ .0 ⁇ 1-10 ⁇ % by weight in proportion to the sum of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 .
  • an amount of the metal may preferably range from 0 ⁇ .1 to 5% by weight in proportion to the sum of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 .
  • an amount of scandium may range 0 ⁇ .1 to 3% by weight in the sum of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 .
  • Powder particles of these elements in the powder material may have an average diameter up to 6 ⁇ m, and a maximum diameter up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m.
  • These elements may be pure substance, binary oxides including, for example, PtO 2 and Rh 2 O 3 , or oxides which contain barium and a noble metal, including, for example, Ba 4 PtO 6 , Ba 4 CuPt 2 O 9 , Y 2 Ba 2 CuPtO 8 , Y 2 Ba 3 Cu 2 PtO 10 ⁇ , Ba 4 CuRh 2 O 9 , etc.
  • the oxide containing barium and a noble metal are obtained by heating a powder material including barium oxide, the noble metal, and the other oxides of constituent metals in a desired stoichiometry in an ambient atmosphere.
  • a powder material including barium oxide, the noble metal, and the other oxides of constituent metals in a desired stoichiometry in an ambient atmosphere.
  • a powder mixture composed of BaO, CuO, and PtO 2 in a molar ratio of 4:1:2 is sintered at about 950 ⁇ °C for five hours in an ambient atmosphere, and the sintered material is pulverized.
  • Y 2 Ba 3 Cu 2 PtO 10 ⁇ powder a powder mixture composed of Y 2 O 3 , BaO, CuO, and PtO 2 so as to have a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu:Pt being 2:3:2:1 is sintered at about 10 ⁇ 50 ⁇ °C for five hours in an ambient atmosphere, and the sintered material is pulverized.
  • these elements may be added to the melt in the heated compact mass prior to the step of gradually cooling the mass.
  • the presence of the elements in the melt of the partially melt process is related to disperse fine particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 uniformly dispersed in grains. These fine particles act as pinning centers, and their presence is preferable. These elements are dispersed uniformly in a form of particles in the REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains of the resulting composite.
  • REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder, RE 2 BaCuO 5 powder, and optionally powder of a compound including at least one element of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc, and Ce are thoroughly mixed in wet or dry.
  • a solution of the compound may be mixed with REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder and RE 2 BaCuO 5 powder, and the mixture is dried, and then pulverized to give a powder material.
  • the powder material may be subjected to a known molding method, such as press molding, injection molding, cast molding, isotropic press molding, etc. to form a desired shape.
  • the compacted mass has any shape, including a disk, a cylinder, a prism; a parallelepiped; a rectangular parallelepiped; a cone; a pyramid; a spheroid; a sphere; a shape obtained by subjecting any of the above shapes to plastic deformation in any desired direction; a shape obtained by cutting any of the above shapes in any direction so as to give a flat or curved surface; and a shape obtained by making at least one hole in any of the above shapes, such as a cylindrical tube.
  • the compacted mass to be heated may include a small amount of silver so that the resulting composite includes particles containing silver thereby ensuring resilience to crack formation in REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains.
  • the compacted mass may include a small amount of a silver compound having a gradation in its concentration through the mass so as to decrease the solidifying point of the mass so that in the gradual cooling step the melt may crystallize from the portion of the compact having the highest solidifying point to a direction of the portions of the compact having lower solidifying points thereby ensuring high orientation of grains in a composite.
  • the compacted mass is heated to a temperature which is higher than an incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x so as to partially melt the REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x in the mass and to decompose the REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x into a melt and RE 2 BaCuO 5 in the solid state.
  • this temperature is lower than an incongruent melting temperature of RE 2 BaCuO 5 at which RE 2 BaCuO 5 decomposes into a melt and RE 2 O 3 in the solid state.
  • RE 2 BaCuO 5 powder in the compacted mass is believed to remain as it is in the solid state.
  • the compacted mass may be placed into a furnace, and then heated at a rate of 10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to 40 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C per hour, and, further preferably 20 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to 30 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C per hour.
  • the compacted mass may be placed into a furnace which was heated in advance to a desired temperature.
  • the atmosphere during the heating step is an ambient atmosphere thereby facilitating the heating operation.
  • the mass is maintained at a steady temperature ranging from 950 ⁇ °C to 1250 ⁇ °C for a sufficient time to partially melt the REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x in the mass.
  • the sufficient time depends on the size of the mass and the steady temperature, and it may be at least 10 ⁇ minutes for a mass having a disk shape with a diameter of 20 ⁇ mm and a height of less than 5 mm.
  • the incongruent melting temperature of the compacted mass depends upon the kind of rare earth element, the kind and amount of the noble metal compound in the compact. In general a larger amount of a noble metal compound decreases the incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the steady temperature to keep the compacted mass may be, for example, in the range from about 1,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to 1,20 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , from about 1,0 ⁇ 40 ⁇ °C to 1,230 ⁇ °C for SmBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , from about 1,0 ⁇ 30 ⁇ °C to 1,20 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for EuBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , from about 10 ⁇ 80 ⁇ °C to 1,230 ⁇ °C for GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , from about 10 ⁇ 30 ⁇ °C to 1,210 ⁇ °C for DyBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , from about 10 ⁇ 40 ⁇ °C to 1,190 ⁇ °C for HoBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , from about 10 ⁇ 20 ⁇ °C to 1,170 ⁇ °C for ErBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , and from about 950 ⁇ °C to 1,150 ⁇ °C for YbBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the mass may be rapidly cooled at a rate ranging from 50 ⁇ °C to 40 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C per hour to an initial temperature from which a gradually cooling starts.
  • the initial temperature may be a temperature higher by 5°C to 20 ⁇ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the mass is gradually cooled so as to recrystallizes REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x from the melt.
  • Gradually cooling the melt in the mass gives rise to a peritectic reaction of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in the solid state with the melt to give crystal growth of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x at an interface of RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles and the melt.
  • the melt includes the RE 2 BaCuO 5 in the solid state due to the decomposition of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and the RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles from the starting material.
  • the presence of a noble metal prevents RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles from growing to more than 20 ⁇ ⁇ m.
  • the RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles from the starting material are small from the beginning.
  • RE 2 BaCuO 5 in a solid state due to the decomposition of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x are believed to be small because initial REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x particles are small.
  • These small particles of RE 2 BaCuO 5 in the melt are related to the dispersion of small RE 2 BaCuO 5 particles in a matrix composed of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains in the resulting composite.
  • the initial temperature from which the mass is gradually cooled may be a temperature higher by 5°C to 20 ⁇ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the ending temperature at which the gradually cooling ends may be lower than the incongruent melting temperature by about 30 ⁇ °C to 70 ⁇ °C.
  • the rate of the gradual cooling may range from 0 ⁇ .1°C to 2°C per hour, and preferably from 0 ⁇ .2°C to 1.5°C per hour.
  • a mass including YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x may be gradually cooled from a temperature ranging from 10 ⁇ 50 ⁇ °C to 980 ⁇ °C to a temperature ranging from 940 ⁇ °C to 850 ⁇ °C
  • a seed crystal which is a small piece of a single crystal of, for example, REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x , may be placed onto the mass so as to provide nucleation sites for REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains.
  • the seed crystal may be single crystals of SrTiO 3 , MgO, LaAlO 3 , LaGaO 3 , NdGaO 3 , PrGaO 3 and the like which have the lattice constants of the (10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ ) surface in their single crystals close to the lattice constant of the ab surface of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x .
  • the rare earth superconductive composite after gradual cooling is heat-treated in an oxygen atmosphere at a given temperature in the same manner as in a known melting process, whereby the REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x grains in the superconductive composite absorb a sufficient amount of oxygen for adjusting the value of x to a positive real number up to 0 ⁇ .2 thereby ensuring superconductivity.
  • the heat treatment in an oxygen atmosphere may be conducted at 60 ⁇ 0 ⁇ ° C for 5-10 ⁇ hours, at 50 ⁇ 0 ⁇ ° C for 10 ⁇ -20 ⁇ hours or at 40 ⁇ 0 ⁇ ° C for 20 ⁇ -50 ⁇ hours.
  • small powder particles of REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and RE 2 BaCuO 5 are used in a compacted mass in the partial melt process thereby increasing a critical current density of a resultant superconductive composite into more than 10 ⁇ ,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ ampere per square centimeter.
  • the composite obtained by the method of the present invention may be applied to various areas, for example, superconductive wires, a flying wheel, a structure for magnetic screening, etc.
  • Y 2 O 3 powder, BaCO 3 powder and CuO powder were thoroughly mixed so as to have a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu to be 1:2:3 using a dry type pot mill for 6 hours.
  • the mixture was spread on a silver plate in an ambient atmosphere, and calcined at 90 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for 10 ⁇ hours.
  • the calcined material was pulverized in a rotary mill using zirconia balls, for a sufficient time to obtain calcined powders of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x having an average particle diameter of Table 1.
  • the powder was subject to the rotary mill about 15 hours for an average particle diameter of 6 ⁇ m.
  • the average particle diameter depends on a calcining temperature and a period of time for pulverizing the calcined material in the rotary mill. For example, calcining the mixture at about 950 ⁇ °C and pulverizing the calcined mixture in the rotary mill for 8 hours led to the average particle diameter of about 13 ⁇ m.
  • Y 2 O 3 powder, BaCO 3 powder and CuO powder were thoroughly mixed so as to have a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu to be 2:1:1 using a dry type pot mill for 6 hours.
  • the mixture was spread on a silver plate in an ambient atmosphere, and calcined at 930 ⁇ °C for 10 ⁇ hours.
  • the calcined material was pulverized in a rotary mill using zirconia balls, for a sufficient time to obtain calcined powder of Y 2 BaCuO 5 having an average particle diameter of Table 1.
  • the powder was subject to the rotary mill for about 15 hours for an average particle diameter of 6 ⁇ m.
  • Powder particles having an average diameter of 3 ⁇ m of both YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and Y 2 BaCuO 5 were obtained by a coprecipitation method using oxalate.
  • yttrium nitrate, barium nitrate, and copper nitrate were dissolved in distilled water in a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu to 1:2:3, and an aqueous ammonia solution was added to the solution so as to adjust pH of the solution to be in the range of 4.0 ⁇ to 4.6 and, preferably about 4.3.
  • a citrate solution was added to the solution to form oxalate complexes of barium, yttrium, and copper.
  • the preparation method is the same as YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x except that the molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu in the starting solution is 2:1:1, and that the firing step requires 90 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for five hours.
  • the powder particles obtained by the coprecipitation method did not include large powder particles having diameters larger than 20 ⁇ ⁇ m.
  • YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder 1 mole part of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder was mixed with 0 ⁇ .4 mole part of Y 2 BaCuO 5 powder, and to the resultant mixture was added 1% by weight of platinum powder in proportion to the mixture.
  • the platinum powder had an average particle diameter up to 4 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter up to 10 ⁇ ⁇ m. The mixture was thoroughly mixed in a dry pot mill.
  • the resultant powder material was placed in a mold having a cylindrical shape with an internal diameter of 20 ⁇ mm, and underwent press molding under a load of 50 ⁇ 0 ⁇ kgf to give a green compact having a shape of a disk with a diameter of 20 ⁇ mm where 1 kgf is equivalent to 9.80 ⁇ 665 N.
  • the green compact was heated to 110 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C in an electrical furnace in an ambient atmosphere at a rate of 350 ⁇ °C per hour.
  • the green compact was held at 1,10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for 1 hour so as to partially melt YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x and decompose YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x into a melt and solid-state phases.
  • the mass was cooled from 1,10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to 1,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C at a rate of 10 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C per hour.
  • the compact was slowly cooled from 1,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to 90 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C at a rate of 1.0 ⁇ °C per hour to solidify the melt.
  • the mass was cooled in the furnace from 90 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C to temperatures below.
  • the atmosphere in the furnace was changed to an oxygen atmosphere and the fired mass was subject to a heat treatment at 650 ⁇ -40 ⁇ 0 ⁇ °C for 50 ⁇ hours to obtain a rare earth superconductive composite.
  • Jc The critical current density, which is abbreviated as Jc, of each composite was measured by a magnetization method at 77 K under a magnetic flux density of 1 tesla.
  • the test conditions and the result obtained are shown in Table 1.
  • Table 1 Ex. average particle diameter ( ⁇ m) Jc (A/cm 2 ) at 77 K under 1 T YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x Y 2 BaCuO 5 1 3 6 18,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 2 6 6 15,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 3 6 3 18,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 4 3 3 3,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 5 5 5 17,0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇
  • Examples 6-14 average particle diameters of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder and Y 2 BaCuO 5 powder were 3 ⁇ m, and these powders were obtained by a coprecipitation method using oxalates. In Examples 6-14, large powder particles having a diameter larger than 20 ⁇ ⁇ m of both YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder and Y 2 BaCuO 5 powder were not present.
  • YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder 1 mole part of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x powder was mixed with a specified mole part shown in Table 4 of Y 2 BaCuO 5 powder, and to the resultant mixture was added a specified percent shown in Table 4 by weight of powder of a noble metal compound in proportion to the mixture.
  • the noble-metal-compound powder had an average particle diameter up to 6 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter up to 20 ⁇ ⁇ m.
  • This powder material was compacted, fired, and then annealed in the same way as Examples 1-5 to give a composite.

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Description

    Background of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to a method for making a rare earth superconductive composite.
  • A superconductive material loses electrical resistance at temperatures at or below a critical temperature. Recently, a new class of rare earth-alkaline earth-copper oxide was discovered to be a superconductive material having a critical temperature above 77K, which is a boiling point of liquid nitrogen. This type of compounds has an approximate unit formula of YBa2Cu3O7-x, where x is typically about close to 0̸, and x represents oxygen deficiency. Crystalline structure of this type of rare earth oxide superconductors have a perovskite structure with the oxygen deficiency.
  • Any superconductor can be classified into either type I superconductor or type II superconductor. When the type I superconductor is exposed to a magnetic field below the critical magnetic field, the superconductor shows complete diamagnetism due to the Meissner effect, and magnetic flux can not penetrate inside the superconductor. A supercurrent flows at the surface of the superconductor so as to cancel the external magnetic field. At the critical magnetic field the superconductor undergoes a transition from a superconductive phase to a non-superconductive phase, and magnetic flux begins to penetrate the inside the superconductor.
  • The type II superconductor exposed to magnetic field below the first magnetic field behaves like the type I superconductor, and magnetic flux can not penetrate inside the superconductor due to the Meissner effect. At the first critical magnetic field the superconductor undergoes a transition from a superconductive phase to a mixed phase, and magnetic flux begins to penetrate the inside the superconductor while maintaining superconductivity. At the second critical magnetic field the type II superconductor undergoes a phase transition from this mixed state to a non-superconductive state. The oxide superconductor belongs to type II superconductor.
  • When an electric current is applied to the type II superconductor in the mixed state, magnetic flux moves due to Lorenz force thereby showing electrical resistance. However, when pinning centers, which include, for example, diamagnetic particles, are dispersed in the superconductor, the magnetic flux penetrates though the pinning centers so that magnetic flux is prevented from moving.
  • Recently, active studies have been reported to obtain a rare earth oxide superconductor having fine particles dispersed therein acting as pinning centers.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-224111 discloses a use of a platinum group element with a partial melt process so as to disperse fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 (RE is Y, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er or Yb) in superconductive grains of REBa2Cu3O7-x. The fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 work as pinning centers to prevent magnetic flux from moving in the resulting superconductive composite. The process includes the steps of: heating a green compact including REBa2Cu3O7-x and at least one element of Rh, Pt, Pd, Ru, Os, and Sc to a temperature higher than an incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x to partially melt REBa2Cu3O7-x; slowly cooling the resulting material to recrystallize REBa2Cu3O7-x from the melt. The presence of a platinum group element, such as platinum and rhodium, in the melt is associated with a mechanism to disperse fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in the slowly cooling step.
  • Ogawa, Yoshida and Hirabayashi in ISTEC Journal, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1991, p. 30̸, describes a generally similar concept of a partial melting process in which a green compact includes a small amount of a platinum group element to make a rare earth superconductive composite in which fine particles of Y2BaCuO5, acting as pinning centers, are dispersed in superconductive grains of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
    • Summary of the Invention
  • An object of the present invention is to improve a critical current density of a superconductive composite in which fine particles of RE2BaCuO5, which work as pinning centers, are dispersed in a matrix of superconductive REBa2Cu3O7-x grains. In the present invention, small powder particles are used for both REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5 in a compacted mass for the partial melt process, thereby making RE2BaCuO5 particles dispersed in the resulting composite smaller and increasing a number of the RE2BaCuO5 particles in a unit volume of the resulting composite. Smaller pinning centers and fine dispersion of pinning centers improve critical current density of the superconductive composite.
  • The present invention provides a method for making a rare earth superconductive composite including a matrix of REBa2Cu3O7-x grains and, uniformly dispersed therein, fine particles of RE2BaCuO5, wherein RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, and x ranges from 0̸ to 1, which comprises the steps of: (1) forming a compacted mass by application of pressure out of a powder material including REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5 in a powder form wherein powder particles of REBa2Cu3O7-x have an average diameter up to 6 µm and a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm, and powder particles of RE2BaCuO5 have an average diameter up to 6 µm and a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm; (2) heating the compacted mass to a temperature which is higher than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x and which is lower than the incongruent melting temperature of RE2BaCuO5 so as to partially melt and decompose the REBa2Cu3O7-x in the mass into a melt and RE2BaCuO5 in the solid state; (3) gradually cooling the mass so as to recrystallize REBa2Cu3O7-x from the melt wherein fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 are dispersed in grains of REBa2Cu3O7-x; and (4) annealing the mass in an atmosphere containing oxygen for a time sufficient for the requisite amount of oxygen to diffuse into the mass. Gradually cooling the melt in step (3) gives rise to a peritectic reaction of RE2BaCuO5 in a solid state with the melt to give a crystal growth of REBa2Cu3O7-x at an interface of RE2BaCuO5 particles and the melt so that fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 are dispersed in grains of REBa2Cu3O7-x. Fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in the composite have a diameter up to 20̸ µm, and most of the fine particles are less than 5 µm. RE2BaCuO5 particles in the composite work as pinning centers.
  • Preferably the powder particles of REBa2Cu3O7-x have an average diameter up to 4 µm and a maximum diameter up to 15 µm, and the powder particles of RE2BaCuO5 have an average diameter up to 4 µm and a maximum diameter up to 15 µm. The powder material in step (1) may include an amount of RE2BaCuO5 ranging from 10̸% to 80̸% by mole of an amount of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
  • The fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 have diameters up to 20̸ µm, and most of the fine particles may have diameters up to 10̸ µm. Diameters of most of the fine particles typically distribute around about 2 to about 4 µm.
  • Preferably the melt in step (3) further includes an effective amount of a species so as to disperse the fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in step (3). The powder material in step (1) may further include the species so as to disperse the fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in step (3), and the species may include at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc, and Ce so that the fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in step (3) have a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm. An amount of the one element may range from 0̸.0̸1 to 10̸ % by weight of the sum of RE2BaCuO5 and REBa2Cu3O7-x in the powder material.
  • Preferably step (2) further includes a step of maintaining the mass at a steady temperature ranging from 950̸°C to 1250̸°C for a sufficient time to partially melt REBa2Cu3O7-x. In step (3) the mass may be gradually cooled from a temperature ranging from 10̸50̸°C to 980̸°C to a temperature ranging from 940̸°C to 850̸°C at a rate ranging from 0̸.1°C to 2°C per hour.
  • Preferably after step (2) and prior to step (3), the mass may be rapidly cooled to an initial temperature of the mass at step (3) at a rate ranging from 50̸°C to 40̸0̸°C per hour. In step (3) an initial temperature from which the mass is gradually cooled may be a temperature higher by 5°C to 20̸ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x, and an ending temperature to which the mass is gradually cooled is a temperature lower by at least 30̸°C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
    • Detailed Description of the Invention
  • The superconductive composite obtained the method of the present invention includes a matrix composed of grains represented by a formula REBa2Cu3O7-x. In the formula, RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. REBa2Cu3O7-x has a multi-layered perovskite structure with oxygen deficiency shown by x. In the formula x is a number ranging from 0̸ to 1, and an oxygen content in REBa2Cu3O7-x is non-stoichiometric. A value of x has a direct influence on the superconductivity of the grains. An example of the formula includes YBa2Cu3O7-x. The rare earth element represented by RE is not restricted to one element and may be a mixture of two or more elements selected from the group. An example of such mixed rare earth elements is that RE is shown as YyYb1-y where y ranges from 0̸ to 1.
  • A starting material for powder of REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5 includes, for example, an oxide of RE, including Y, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb; a carbonate, oxide or peroxide of Ba; and an oxide of Cu. To form powder of REBa2Cu3O7-x, a mixture including RE, Ba, and Cu in a molar ratio of 1:2:3 is sintered at a temperature ranging from 650̸°C to 1,0̸0̸0̸°C, which is lower than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x, in an ambient atmosphere, and the sintered material is pulverized. Alternatively, the mixture may be heated to a temperature higher than the incongruent melting temperature to partially melt REBa2Cu3O7-x and then to cool the mass to solidify the melt.
  • To form powder of RE2BaCuO5, a mixture including RE, Ba, and Cu in a molar ratio of 2:1:1 is fired at a temperature ranging from 80̸0̸°C to 1,20̸0̸°C in an ambient atmosphere, and the fired material is pulverized, for example with a mill. An average particle size can be adjusted by a period of time for pulverizing the fired material.
  • Large particles may be eliminated by a sedimentation method using an appropriate solvent such as ethanol, and a sieving method. In the sedimentation method, powder particles are dispersed in a solvent, and larger particles fall quicker than smaller particles, thereby removing larger particles.
  • Powder particles having an average diameter of not more than about 3 µm may be obtained by a coprecipitation method using oxalates, a sol-gel method, or a spray-pyrolysis method.
  • In the sol-gel method, nitrates or acetates of a rare earth metal, barium, and copper are dissolved in an organic solvent such as alcohol. Ethyleneglycol may be used as a solvent. An organic acid, for example, citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, etc. is added to the starting solution to form metallic salts of the organic acid. Then the solvent is removed from the solution at a temperature ranging from about 70̸°C to about 90̸°C for a sufficient time, for example, over a period of scores of hours so as to change a sol to a gel to solidify. The solid obtained is pulverized, and then fired at about 80̸0̸°C for one to six hours to give fine powder. A molar ratio of RE:Ba:Cu in the starting solution is adjusted for a desired ratio such as 1:2:3 and 2:2:1.
  • In the spray pyrolysis method, a solution containing a rare earth metal, barium, and copper in a desired ratio is sprayed into a furnace which is heated to high temperatures in advance so as to pyrolyze the compound in the sprayed solution to give a composite oxide. This method is disclosed in "Advances in Superconductivity II" p873-876 by Springer-Verlag, 1990̸.
  • A compacted mass is obtained by application of pressure out of a powder material including REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5 in a powder form. The powder material may consist essentially of 10̸0̸ molar parts of REBa2Cu3O7-x and 10̸ to 80̸ molar parts of RE2BaCuO5, and further preferably 10̸0̸ molar parts of REBa2Cu3O7-x and 20̸ to 50̸ molar parts of RE2BaCuO5. The ratio of the two starting materials is suitable for dispersing fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in the resulting composite.
  • Preferably the powder material contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc, and Ce, and an amount the at least one element is preferably 0̸.0̸1-10̸% by weight in proportion to the sum of REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5. When at least one of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, and Os is used, an amount of the metal may preferably range from 0̸.1 to 5% by weight in proportion to the sum of REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5. When Sc is used, an amount of scandium may range 0̸.1 to 3% by weight in the sum of REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5. Powder particles of these elements in the powder material may have an average diameter up to 6 µm, and a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm. These elements may be pure substance, binary oxides including, for example, PtO2 and Rh2O3, or oxides which contain barium and a noble metal, including, for example, Ba4PtO6, Ba4CuPt2O9, Y2Ba2CuPtO8, Y2Ba3Cu2PtO10̸, Ba4CuRh2O9, etc.
  • The oxide containing barium and a noble metal are obtained by heating a powder material including barium oxide, the noble metal, and the other oxides of constituent metals in a desired stoichiometry in an ambient atmosphere. For example, to form Ba4CuPt2O9 in a powder form, a powder mixture composed of BaO, CuO, and PtO2 in a molar ratio of 4:1:2 is sintered at about 950̸°C for five hours in an ambient atmosphere, and the sintered material is pulverized. To form Y2Ba3Cu2PtO10̸ powder, a powder mixture composed of Y2O3, BaO, CuO, and PtO2 so as to have a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu:Pt being 2:3:2:1 is sintered at about 10̸50̸°C for five hours in an ambient atmosphere, and the sintered material is pulverized.
  • Alternatively, these elements may be added to the melt in the heated compact mass prior to the step of gradually cooling the mass. The presence of the elements in the melt of the partially melt process is related to disperse fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 uniformly dispersed in grains. These fine particles act as pinning centers, and their presence is preferable. These elements are dispersed uniformly in a form of particles in the REBa2Cu3O7-x grains of the resulting composite.
  • REBa2Cu3O7-x powder, RE2BaCuO5 powder, and optionally powder of a compound including at least one element of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc, and Ce are thoroughly mixed in wet or dry. Alternatively a solution of the compound may be mixed with REBa2Cu3O7-x powder and RE2BaCuO5 powder, and the mixture is dried, and then pulverized to give a powder material.
  • Pressure is applied to the powder material to give a compacted mass. The powder material may be subjected to a known molding method, such as press molding, injection molding, cast molding, isotropic press molding, etc. to form a desired shape.
  • The compacted mass has any shape, including a disk, a cylinder, a prism; a parallelepiped; a rectangular parallelepiped; a cone; a pyramid; a spheroid; a sphere; a shape obtained by subjecting any of the above shapes to plastic deformation in any desired direction; a shape obtained by cutting any of the above shapes in any direction so as to give a flat or curved surface; and a shape obtained by making at least one hole in any of the above shapes, such as a cylindrical tube.
  • As disclosed in EP-A-0 564 279, the compacted mass to be heated may include a small amount of silver so that the resulting composite includes particles containing silver thereby ensuring resilience to crack formation in REBa2Cu3O7-x grains. As further disclosed in EP-A-0 564 279, the compacted mass may include a small amount of a silver compound having a gradation in its concentration through the mass so as to decrease the solidifying point of the mass so that in the gradual cooling step the melt may crystallize from the portion of the compact having the highest solidifying point to a direction of the portions of the compact having lower solidifying points thereby ensuring high orientation of grains in a composite.
  • The compacted mass is heated to a temperature which is higher than an incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x so as to partially melt the REBa2Cu3O7-x in the mass and to decompose the REBa2Cu3O7-x into a melt and RE2BaCuO5 in the solid state. However, this temperature is lower than an incongruent melting temperature of RE2BaCuO5 at which RE2BaCuO5 decomposes into a melt and RE2O3 in the solid state. During this heating step RE2BaCuO5 powder in the compacted mass is believed to remain as it is in the solid state.
  • The compacted mass may be placed into a furnace, and then heated at a rate of 10̸0̸°C to 40̸0̸°C per hour, and, further preferably 20̸0̸°C to 30̸0̸°C per hour. Alternatively, the compacted mass may be placed into a furnace which was heated in advance to a desired temperature. Preferably the atmosphere during the heating step is an ambient atmosphere thereby facilitating the heating operation.
  • Preferably the mass is maintained at a steady temperature ranging from 950̸°C to 1250̸°C for a sufficient time to partially melt the REBa2Cu3O7-x in the mass. The sufficient time depends on the size of the mass and the steady temperature, and it may be at least 10̸ minutes for a mass having a disk shape with a diameter of 20̸ mm and a height of less than 5 mm.
  • The incongruent melting temperature of the compacted mass depends upon the kind of rare earth element, the kind and amount of the noble metal compound in the compact. In general a larger amount of a noble metal compound decreases the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x. The steady temperature to keep the compacted mass may be, for example, in the range from about 1,0̸0̸0̸°C to 1,20̸0̸°C for YBa2Cu3O7-x, from about 1,0̸40̸°C to 1,230̸°C for SmBa2Cu3O7-x, from about 1,0̸30̸°C to 1,20̸0̸°C for EuBa2Cu3O7-x, from about 10̸80̸°C to 1,230̸°C for GdBa2Cu3O7-x, from about 10̸30̸°C to 1,210̸°C for DyBa2Cu3O7-x, from about 10̸40̸°C to 1,190̸°C for HoBa2Cu3O7-x, from about 10̸20̸°C to 1,170̸°C for ErBa2Cu3O7-x, and from about 950̸°C to 1,150̸°C for YbBa2Cu3O7-x.
  • Then the mass may be rapidly cooled at a rate ranging from 50̸°C to 40̸0̸°C per hour to an initial temperature from which a gradually cooling starts. The initial temperature may be a temperature higher by 5°C to 20̸ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
  • Subsequently, the mass is gradually cooled so as to recrystallizes REBa2Cu3O7-x from the melt. Gradually cooling the melt in the mass gives rise to a peritectic reaction of RE2BaCuO5 in the solid state with the melt to give crystal growth of REBa2Cu3O7-x at an interface of RE2BaCuO5 particles and the melt. The melt includes the RE2BaCuO5 in the solid state due to the decomposition of REBa2Cu3O7-x and the RE2BaCuO5 particles from the starting material. The presence of a noble metal prevents RE2BaCuO5 particles from growing to more than 20̸ µm. In the present invention, the RE2BaCuO5 particles from the starting material are small from the beginning. The RE2BaCuO5 in a solid state due to the decomposition of REBa2Cu3O7-x are believed to be small because initial REBa2Cu3O7-x particles are small. These small particles of RE2BaCuO5 in the melt are related to the dispersion of small RE2BaCuO5 particles in a matrix composed of REBa2Cu3O7-x grains in the resulting composite.
  • The initial temperature from which the mass is gradually cooled may be a temperature higher by 5°C to 20̸ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x. The ending temperature at which the gradually cooling ends may be lower than the incongruent melting temperature by about 30̸ °C to 70̸°C. The rate of the gradual cooling may range from 0̸.1°C to 2°C per hour, and preferably from 0̸.2°C to 1.5°C per hour. For example, a mass including YBa2Cu3O7-x may be gradually cooled from a temperature ranging from 10̸50̸°C to 980̸°C to a temperature ranging from 940̸°C to 850̸°C
  • As disclosed in EP-A-0 564 279, during the gradual cooling step, a seed crystal, which is a small piece of a single crystal of, for example, REBa2Cu3O7-x, may be placed onto the mass so as to provide nucleation sites for REBa2Cu3O7-x grains. The seed crystal may be single crystals of SrTiO3, MgO, LaAlO3, LaGaO3, NdGaO3, PrGaO3 and the like which have the lattice constants of the (10̸0̸) surface in their single crystals close to the lattice constant of the ab surface of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
  • The rare earth superconductive composite after gradual cooling is heat-treated in an oxygen atmosphere at a given temperature in the same manner as in a known melting process, whereby the REBa2Cu3O7-x grains in the superconductive composite absorb a sufficient amount of oxygen for adjusting the value of x to a positive real number up to 0̸.2 thereby ensuring superconductivity. The heat treatment in an oxygen atmosphere may be conducted at 60̸0̸° C for 5-10̸ hours, at 50̸0̸° C for 10̸-20̸ hours or at 40̸0̸° C for 20̸-50̸ hours.
  • In the method of the present invention small powder particles of REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5 are used in a compacted mass in the partial melt process thereby increasing a critical current density of a resultant superconductive composite into more than 10̸,0̸0̸0̸ ampere per square centimeter. The composite obtained by the method of the present invention may be applied to various areas, for example, superconductive wires, a flying wheel, a structure for magnetic screening, etc.
    • Examples 1-5
  • Y2O3 powder, BaCO3 powder and CuO powder were thoroughly mixed so as to have a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu to be 1:2:3 using a dry type pot mill for 6 hours. The mixture was spread on a silver plate in an ambient atmosphere, and calcined at 90̸0̸°C for 10̸ hours. The calcined material was pulverized in a rotary mill using zirconia balls, for a sufficient time to obtain calcined powders of YBa2Cu3O7-x having an average particle diameter of Table 1. For example, the powder was subject to the rotary mill about 15 hours for an average particle diameter of 6 µm.
  • It is noted that the average particle diameter depends on a calcining temperature and a period of time for pulverizing the calcined material in the rotary mill. For example, calcining the mixture at about 950̸°C and pulverizing the calcined mixture in the rotary mill for 8 hours led to the average particle diameter of about 13 µm.
  • Y2O3 powder, BaCO3 powder and CuO powder were thoroughly mixed so as to have a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu to be 2:1:1 using a dry type pot mill for 6 hours. The mixture was spread on a silver plate in an ambient atmosphere, and calcined at 930̸°C for 10̸ hours. The calcined material was pulverized in a rotary mill using zirconia balls, for a sufficient time to obtain calcined powder of Y2BaCuO5 having an average particle diameter of Table 1. For example, the powder was subject to the rotary mill for about 15 hours for an average particle diameter of 6 µm. Alternatively, calcining the mixture at about 950̸°C and pulverizing the calcined in the rotary mill for 8 hours led to the average particle diameter of about 15 µm.
  • Large powder particles having a diameter larger than 20̸ µm in both YBa2Cu3O7-x powder and Y2BaCuO5 powder were removed by a sieving method.
  • Powder particles having an average diameter of 3 µm of both YBa2Cu3O7-x and Y2BaCuO5 were obtained by a coprecipitation method using oxalate. In the coprecipitation method, yttrium nitrate, barium nitrate, and copper nitrate were dissolved in distilled water in a molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu to 1:2:3, and an aqueous ammonia solution was added to the solution so as to adjust pH of the solution to be in the range of 4.0̸ to 4.6 and, preferably about 4.3. Then, a citrate solution was added to the solution to form oxalate complexes of barium, yttrium, and copper. While the solution was being mixed, ethanol was added to the solution so as to decrease solubility of the oxalate complexes, and the oxalate complexes started to coprecipitate. After filtration, the precipitate was dried and then fired at about 80̸0̸°C for six hours to give fine powder of YBa2Cu3O7-x. After the firing step, pulverization is unnecessary. To obtain fine powder of Y2BaCuO5, the preparation method is the same as YBa2Cu3O7-x except that the molar ratio of Y:Ba:Cu in the starting solution is 2:1:1, and that the firing step requires 90̸0̸°C for five hours. The powder particles obtained by the coprecipitation method did not include large powder particles having diameters larger than 20̸ µm.
  • 1 mole part of YBa2Cu3O7-x powder was mixed with 0̸.4 mole part of Y2BaCuO5 powder, and to the resultant mixture was added 1% by weight of platinum powder in proportion to the mixture. The platinum powder had an average particle diameter up to 4 µm and a maximum particle diameter up to 10̸ µm. The mixture was thoroughly mixed in a dry pot mill.
  • The resultant powder material was placed in a mold having a cylindrical shape with an internal diameter of 20̸ mm, and underwent press molding under a load of 50̸0̸ kgf to give a green compact having a shape of a disk with a diameter of 20̸ mm where 1 kgf is equivalent to 9.80̸665 N.
  • The green compact was heated to 110̸0̸°C in an electrical furnace in an ambient atmosphere at a rate of 350̸°C per hour. The green compact was held at 1,10̸0̸°C for 1 hour so as to partially melt YBa2Cu3O7-x and decompose YBa2Cu3O7-x into a melt and solid-state phases. The mass was cooled from 1,10̸0̸°C to 1,0̸0̸0̸°C at a rate of 10̸0̸ °C per hour. Then, the compact was slowly cooled from 1,0̸0̸0̸°C to 90̸0̸°C at a rate of 1.0̸ °C per hour to solidify the melt. The mass was cooled in the furnace from 90̸0̸°C to temperatures below. Then, the atmosphere in the furnace was changed to an oxygen atmosphere and the fired mass was subject to a heat treatment at 650̸-40̸0̸°C for 50̸ hours to obtain a rare earth superconductive composite.
  • The critical current density, which is abbreviated as Jc, of each composite was measured by a magnetization method at 77 K under a magnetic flux density of 1 tesla. The test conditions and the result obtained are shown in Table 1. (Table 1)
    Ex. average particle diameter (µm) Jc (A/cm2) at 77 K under 1 T
    YBa2Cu3O7-x Y2BaCuO5
    1 3 6 18,0̸0̸0̸
    2 6 6 15,0̸0̸0̸
    3 6 3 18,0̸0̸0̸
    4 3 3 19,0̸0̸0̸
    5 5 5 17,0̸0̸0̸
    • Comparative Examples 1-3
  • As shown in Table 2, average particle diameters of YBa2Cu3O7-x powders and Y2BaCuO5 powders in Comparative Examples 1-3 were changed from Examples 1-5. The other conditions of Comparative Examples 1-3 were the same as those of Examples 1-5.
  • A critical current density of each composite was measured by a magnetization method at 77 K under a magnetic flux density of 1 tesla. The test conditions and the result obtained are shown in Table 2. (Table 2)
    Comp. Ex. average particle diameter (µm) Jc (A/cm2) at 77 K under 1 T
    YBa2Cu3O7-x Y2BaCuO5
    1 8 6 10̸,0̸0̸0̸
    2 13 6 5,0̸0̸0̸
    3 3 15 6,0̸0̸0̸
  • Comparing Table 2 with Table 1, as the average particle diameter of YBa2Cu3O7-x and Y2BaCuO5 increases, the critical current density of the composite decreases.
  • A cross section of each composite was observed by an electron microscope. In any of the samples taken from Examples 1-5, Y2BaCuO5 particles dispersed in a matrix of YBa2Cu3O7-x grains had diameters smaller than 20̸ µm, and most of the fine particles had diameters less than 3 µm. In contrast, in any of the samples taken from the composites of Comparative Examples 1-3, a small number of Y2BaCuO5 particles dispersed in a matrix of YBa2Cu3O7-x grains had diameters larger than 20̸ µm.
    • Comparative Examples 4-6
  • As shown in Table 3, average particle diameters of YBa2Cu3O7-x powders and Y2BaCuO5 powders in Comparative Examples 4-6 were changed from Examples 1-5, and either YBa2Cu3O7-x powder or Y2BaCuO5 powder had a small portion of large particles having particle diameter larger than 20̸ µm. A content of the large particles in the powder is expressed in percent by weight in proportion to the powder in Table 3. The other conditions of Comparative Examples 4-6 were the same as those of Examples 1-5.
  • The critical current density of each composite was measured by a magnetization method at 77 K under a magnetic flux density of 1 tesla. The test conditions and the result obtained are shown in Table 3. (Table 3)
    Comp. Ex. YBa2Cu3O7-x Y2BaCuO5 Jc (A/cm2) at 77 K under 1 T
    aver.part. diameter (µm) content of large part. (% by wt.) aver.part. diameter (µm) content of large part. (% by wt.)
    4 5 0̸ 6 10̸ 10̸,0̸0̸0̸
    5 6 10̸ 5 0̸ 7,0̸0̸0̸
    6 6 15 5 0̸ 4,0̸0̸0̸
  • Comparing Table 3 with Table 1, the presence of the large particles having diameters more than 20̸ µm in either powder decreases the critical current density of the composite.
    • Examples 6-14
  • In Examples 6-14, average particle diameters of YBa2Cu3O7-x powder and Y2BaCuO5 powder were 3µm, and these powders were obtained by a coprecipitation method using oxalates. In Examples 6-14, large powder particles having a diameter larger than 20̸ µm of both YBa2Cu3O7-x powder and Y2BaCuO5 powder were not present.
  • 1 mole part of YBa2Cu3O7-x powder was mixed with a specified mole part shown in Table 4 of Y2BaCuO5 powder, and to the resultant mixture was added a specified percent shown in Table 4 by weight of powder of a noble metal compound in proportion to the mixture. The noble-metal-compound powder had an average particle diameter up to 6 µm, and a maximum particle diameter up to 20̸ µm.
  • This powder material was compacted, fired, and then annealed in the same way as Examples 1-5 to give a composite.
  • A critical current density of each composite was measured by a magnetization method at 77 K under a magnetic flux density of 1 tesla. The test conditions and the result obtained are shown in Table 4. (Table 4)
    Ex. molar ratio of Y2BaCuO5 a noble metal compd. Jc (A/cm2) at 77 K under 1 T
    compd. amount (wt. %)b
    6 0̸.1 Pt 1 13,0̸0̸0̸
    7 0̸.2 Pt 0̸.5 18,0̸0̸0̸
    8 0̸.4 Pt 1 17,0̸0̸0̸
    9 0̸.8 Pt 1 12,0̸0̸0̸
    10̸ 0̸.2 Rh 0̸.5 20̸,0̸0̸0̸
    11 0̸.4 Ba4CuPt2O9 2 16,0̸0̸0̸
    12 0̸.4 Ba4CuPt2O9 6 17,0̸0̸0̸
    13 0̸.4 Ba4CuRh2O9 2 18,0̸0̸0̸
    14 0̸.4 Y2Ba3Cu2PtO10̸ 2 16,0̸0̸0̸
    a a molar ratio of Y2BaCuO5 to YBa2Cu3O7-x;
    b an amount of a noble metal compound in percent by weight in proportion to the sum of the YBa2Cu3O7-x powder and the Y2BaCuO5 powder.
    • Comparative Examples 7-13
  • 1 mole part of YBa2Cu3O7-x powder was mixed with a specified mole part shown in Table 5 of Y2BaCuO5 powder, and to the resultant mixture was added a specified percent shown in Table 5 by weight of powder of a noble metal compound in proportion to the mixture. The other conditions of Comparative Examples 7-13 were the same as those of Examples 6-14.
  • A critical current density of each composite was measured by a magnetization method at 77 K under a magnetic flux density of 1 tesla. The test conditions and the result obtained are shown in Table 5. (Table 5)
    Comp. Ex. molar ratio of Y2BaCuO5 a noble metal compd. Jc (A/cm2) at 77 K under 1 T
    compd. amount (wt. %)b
    7 0̸ Pt 0̸.5 6,0̸0̸0̸
    8 0̸.9 Pt 1 10̸,0̸0̸0̸
    9 0̸.4 none - 5,0̸0̸0̸
    10̸ 0̸.4 Pt 0̸.0̸3 6,0̸0̸0̸
    11 0̸.4 Pt 20̸ 6,0̸0̸0̸
    12 0̸.4 Ba4CuPt2O9 30̸ 8,0̸0̸0̸
    13 0̸.4 Y2Ba3Cu2PtO10̸ 0̸.0̸5 6,0̸0̸0̸
    a a molar ratio of Y2BaCuO5 to YBa2Cu3O7-x;
    b an amount of a noble metal compound in percent by weight in proportion to the sum of the YBa2Cu3O7-x powder and the Y2BaCuO5 powder.
  • Comparing Table 5 with Table 4, it increases a critical current density of a composite that a molar ratio of Y2BaCuO5 to YBa2Cu3O7-x ranges from 0̸.1 to 0̸.8, and particularly from 0̸.2 to 0̸.5. It also increases a critical current density of a composite that an amount of a noble metal compound ranges from 0̸.0̸5% to 10̸%, and particularly 0̸.5 to 6%, by weight in proportion to the sum of the YBa2Cu3O7-x powder and the Y2BaCuO5 powder.
  • It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the invention presented here. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific examples shown and described.

Claims (8)

  1. A method for making a rare earth superconductive composite including a matrix of REBa2Cu3O7-x grains and, uniformly dispersed therein, fine particles of RE2BaCuO5, wherein RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, and x is in the range from 0̸ to 1, which includes the steps of:
    (1) forming a compacted mass by application of pressure, from a powder material including REBa2Cu3O7-x and RE2BaCuO5 ;
    (2) heating the compacted mass to a temperature which is higher than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x and which is lower than the incongruent melting temperature of RE2BaCuO5 so as to partially melt and decompose the REBa2Cu3O7-x in the mass into a melt and RE2BaCuO5 in the solid state;
    (3) gradually cooling the mass so as to recrystallize REBa2Cu3O7-x from the melt wherein fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 are dispersed in REBa2Cu3O7-x grains; and
    (4) annealing the mass in an atmosphere containing oxygen for a time sufficient for the requisite amount of oxygen to diffuse into the mass;
       characterized in that in the step of forming the compacted mass, powder particles of REBa2Cu3O7-x have an average diameter up to 6 µm and a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm, and powder particles of RE2BaCuO5 have an average diameter up to 6 µm and a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm.
  2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said powder particles of REBa2Cu3O7-x have an average diameter up to 4 µm and a maximum diameter up to 51 µm, and said powder particles of RE2BaCuO5 have an average diameter up to 4 µm and a maximum diameter up to 15 µm.
  3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said powder material in step (1) includes an amount of RE2BaCuO5 in the range from 10̸% to 80̸% by mole relative to the amount of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
  4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said powder material in step (1) includes at least one element selected from Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Os, Sc and Ce so that said fine particles of RE2BaCuO5 in step (3) have a maximum diameter up to 20̸ µm, and the amount of said at least one element is in the range from 0̸.0̸1 to 10̸% by weight relative to the sum of RE2BaCuO5 and REBa2Cu3O7-x in said powder material.
  5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein step (2) further includes a step of maintaining the mass at a steady temperature in the range from 950̸°C to 1250̸°C for a sufficient time to partially melt REBa2Cu3O7-x.
  6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein in step (3) the mass is gradually cooled from a temperature in the range from 10̸50̸°C to 980̸°C to a temperature in the range from 940̸°C to 850̸°C at a rate ranging from 0̸.1°C to 2°C per hour.
  7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, after step (2) and prior to step (3), further including a step of rapidly cooling the mass to an initial temperature of the mass at step (3) at a rate in the range 50̸°C to 40̸0̸°C per hour.
  8. A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein in step (3) an initial temperature from which the mass is gradually cooled is a temperature higher by 5°C to 20̸ °C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x, and an ending temperature to which the mass is gradually cooled is a temperature lower by at least 30̸°C than the incongruent melting temperature of REBa2Cu3O7-x.
EP93306516A 1992-08-25 1993-08-18 Method for making rare earth superconductive composite Expired - Lifetime EP0587326B2 (en)

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US5660774A (en) * 1993-09-27 1997-08-26 Alfred University Process for making a sintered body from ultra-fine superconductive particles
ES2111435B1 (en) * 1994-04-22 1999-09-16 Consejo Superior Investigacion PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING TEXTURED SUPERCONDUCTING CERAMICS FROM TRBA2CU3O, WHERE TR MEANS RARE EARTH OR YTRIO, THROUGH DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION.
GB9409660D0 (en) * 1994-05-13 1994-07-06 Merck Patent Gmbh Process for the preparation of multi-element metaloxide powders
GB9425528D0 (en) * 1994-12-19 1995-03-08 Johnson Matthey Plc Improved super conductor
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US5496799A (en) 1996-03-05
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